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Top Prospect Showcase: Middle Infield Analysis

July 24, 2015

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

The middle infield analysis is led by the fleet-footed Darius Hill (Morgan Park). Hill ran a 6.61 and showed extremely soft hands on the infield. Billy Mote (Normal University) was the only 2017 to make the top five as his left-handed bat stood out. Here’s a look at the top middle infield prospects.

Top Middle Infielders

1. Darius Hill, SS/OF, Morgan Park, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound, small frame, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly open stance, loads back, short stride, good balance. Above average bat speed, level path, 86 mph exit velocity. In the IF showed soft hands, fluid footwork, quick exchange.  Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot, 72 mph across the infield. In the OF showed long arm action, some accuracy, 80 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.61 60-time.

2. Matt Collins, SS, Carmel Catholic, 2016
6-foot-1, 175-pound, right-handed hitting shortstop with an athletic frame. Currently ranked No. 99 in the Illinois Class of 2016. Defensively has a short, loose arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Accurate throws with carry. Soft hands with a quick, clean exchange. Easy, fluid actions. Athletic fielder who plays thru the ball. Took one of the best defensive rounds of the event. Threw 84 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open stance with a short stride. Up the middle approach with fluid rhythm. Lind drive hitter with a level swing path and extension. Showed strength thru contact with 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.22.

3. Nolan Gazouski, SS/OF/RHP, Rockford Christian, 2016
6-foot-6, 185-pound, lanky build with athleticism, two-way player. Hits from the left-side, slightly open set up, short stride, lower half works. Good bat speed, long bat path, 95 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, fluid footwork, loose arm action, ¾ slot, 88 mph from the OF, 80 mph from the IF. Ran a 6.78 60-time. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, high ¾ arm slot, short arm action, lands closed. Fastball showed arm-side-run, sat 84-86 mph. Sider had 10/4 shape, 74-77 mph. Curveball sat 72-74 mph.

4. Brandon Skopick, SS, Lincoln-Way East, 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound, lanky build, left-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, smooth load, no stride. Above-average bat speed, short, level swing, line-drive approach, 87 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, some carry, 82 mph across the infield. Ran a 6.8 60-time.

5. Billy Mote, SS, Normal University, 2017
6-foot, 175-pound, left-handed hitting shortstop. Defensively has a long loose arm action. Average hands with average arm strength. Threw 81 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a slightly open stance, toe turn and tap stride. Starts slightly open and dives into the plate on stride. Bars out on load. Long, level swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.62.

5. Tom Duddleston, SS, De La Salle, 2016
5-foot-11, 175-pound, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, loads smooth, short stride, good balance. Average bat speed, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach, 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed above-average hands, good actions, short arm action, high ¾ slot, with accuracy, 81 mph across the IF. Ran a 7.04 60-time.

Best of The Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Colton Burt, SS, Wautoma(WI), 2016
5-foot-9, 175-pound, average build, some strength, right-handed hitter. Hits from a tall, open set up, loads back, average balance. Above-average bat speed, short, uphill path, 90 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, short arm action, high ¾ slot, 80 mph across the infield. Ran a 6.99 60-time.

Damon Czarnecki, 2B, Oak Forest, 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound, average build, right-handed hitter. Hits from an open stance, short stride. Average bat speed, uphill bat path, 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, short arm action, ¾ slot, 60 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.81 60-time.

Jake Huber, SS, Lockport, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound, average build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a narrow, open set up, loads back, short stride, above-average balance. Above-average bat speed, short, level bat path, 86 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed soft hands, quick exchange, athletic fielding position. Short arm action, ¾ arm slot, some accuracy, 84 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.27 60-time.

Max Maney, 2B/RHP, Boylan Central Catholic, 2016
5-foot-9, 160-pound, small frame, two-way player. Hits from an open stance, loads hands back, good balance. Level bat path, line drive approach, 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, fluid footwork, short arm action, high ¾ slot, with accuracy, 80 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.39 60-time. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, long arm action, lands closed. Fast ball consistently at 79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball showed 11/5 shape, 67-69 mph. Changeup sat 70-73 mph.

Steven Meyer, SS/2B, Lake Central, 2016
5-foot-10, 163-pound, average build, right-handed hitter. Hits from an open stance, loads hands back, average balance. Average bat speed, long bat path, line-drive approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, short arm action, ¾ slot, some accuracy, 75 mph across the infield.

Maclain Neal, 2B, Hinsdale Central, 2016
5-foot-9, 175-pound, average build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly-open set up, smooth load, short stride, good balance. Average bat speed, short, level path, 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed average hands, short arm action, high ¾ slot, 74 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.23 60-time.

Jacob Rintz, SS, Schaumburg, 2016
6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed hitting shortstop. Currently ranked No. 220 in the Illinois Class of 2016. Defensively has s short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Accurate throws with average arm strength. Solid actions with slower footwork. Threw 80 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from a balanced slightly open stance. Short stride with average balance. Average bat speed with a long, slightly uphill swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.07.

Kolton Rominski, SS/RHP, Marian Central Catholic, 2016
5-foot-10, 180-pound, average frame, two-way player, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, loads hands back, short stride, good balance. Average bat speed, level bat path, 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, short arm action, high ¾ slot, with some carry, 83 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.47 60-time. On the mound displayed a drop-and-drive delivery, short arm action, landing square. Fastball sat 81-83 mph, touched 84 mph. Curveball had 11/5 shape, gradual break, ability to throw for strikes, 70-73 mph. Changeup sat 72-74 mph. Slider sat 72-74 mph.

Daniel Schimmell, 2B, Hinsdale South, 2016
5-foot-8, 175-pound, strong build, small frame, right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly-open set up, slight leg-kick, good balance. Average bat speed, line-drive approach, 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed average hands, fluid footwork, short arm action high ¾ slot, 77 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.03 60-time.

Christian Schuler, SS, Pontiac, 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound, average build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, loads back, short stride. Level bat path, line-drive approach, 74 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed above-average hands, fluid footwork, short arm action, ¾ slot, with accuracy, 79 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.37 60-time.

Jimmy Smyth, SS, Oak Forest, 2016
6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed hitting shortstop. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Soft hands with quick, fluid footwork and a clean exchange. Athletic fielder, plays thru the ball with good lateral agility. Threw 78 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a tall setup. Leg lift trigger with a short stride. Linear lower half with average balance. Pull hitter with average bat speed. 80 mph exit velocity form a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.17.

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